Ukraine loses another Su-27 fighter jet in the east, pilot killed.
The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed that a Su-27 crashed on the afternoon of December 8th while on a mission in eastern Ukraine; Lieutenant Colonel Yevhenii Vitaliiovych Ivanov of the 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade was killed. The Su-27 uses AL-31F engines.
The Ukrainian Air Force announced that it lost another Su-27 fighter jet during a mission in eastern Ukraine on December 8th. The senior pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Yevhenii Vitaliiovych Ivanov of the 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade, was killed in the crash.
The official statement said: "At noon on December 8, while performing a combat mission, Lieutenant Colonel Yevhenii Vitaliiovych Ivanov, a senior pilot of the 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade, was killed."
Overview of Su-27s in service with Ukraine
The Sukhoi Su-27 is a jet fighter designed and manufactured by the Sukhoi Design Bureau (SDB) since 1977. Its primary mission is air superiority, while it also has bombing and ground attack capabilities. Since the outbreak of conflict with Russia, Ukraine has actively deployed Su-27s in special combat zones.
According to some military sources, the Su-27s operated by Ukraine have not been modernized to the same extent as the Russian versions. Several Su-27 fighters of the Ukrainian Air Force have been reported shot down by Russian forces.
The specifications are stated.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Air superiority fighters; capable of bombing and ground attack. |
| Designer/Producer | Sukhoi Design Bureau (SDB) |
| Design/Production Time | Since 1977 |
| Engine | Two AL-31F jet engines |
| Maximum speed | 2,280 km/h |
| Scope of operation | 3,680 km |
Technical and operational perspective based on existing data.
With two AL-31F engines, a top speed of 2,280 km/h, and a range of 3,680 km, the Su-27 is designed for air superiority missions, while also capable of bombing and ground attack when needed. This data underscores its wide airspace coverage and mission flexibility.
Given Ukraine's active use of Su-27s in special combat zones and highly confrontational environments, operating fighter jets in these conditions always carries inherent risks and losses, as evidenced by reports that several Ukrainian Air Force Su-27s have been shot down by Russia.
A brief comparison
According to some military sources, the Su-27s in service with Ukraine have not been modernized to the same extent as their Russian counterparts. This information suggests a difference in the level of upgrades between the operational variants, but specific details of the upgrade package are not mentioned in the source data.
Immediate impact
The loss of another Su-27 and the sacrifice of a high-ranking pilot like Lieutenant Colonel Yevhenii Vitaliiovych Ivanov is a blow to the Ukrainian Air Force in the context of combat operations in the East. The available information focuses on confirming the incident, the pilot's identity, and the basic characteristics of this fighter jet; the specific cause and additional details are not disclosed.
